Local student serves as page for Sen. Rivers

March 14, 2016

Benjamin Howard, a sophomore at Battle Ground’s CAM Academy, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Benjamin was one of 29 students who served as Senate pages for the eighth week of the 2016 legislative session.

He was sponsored by 18th Legislative District Sen. Ann Rivers, Senate majority whip.

“Benjamin is bright young man and he has a promising future ahead of him. It was a pleasure to have him here in the Capitol and I appreciate all the work he did for us,” said Rivers, R-La Center.

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Students are responsible for transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock session.

“Being in a place where you casually see senators or the governor walking around is such a cool experience,” said Benjamin about some of the highlights of his week at the Capitol.

Benjamin enjoys reading, playing video games and acting. He recently was in a play of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” at his local high school. Benjamin played the part of Biondello who is as Benjamin puts it is the “thinking man’s clown.”

Benjamin, 16, is the son of Michael and Angela Howard of Battle Ground.